UCF denies appeal for ATO fraternity suspended for a year

In early 2013, UCF made national headlines after it decided to suspend all Greek life following concerns about alcohol and hazing. In 2009, UCF asked the school's fraternities to voluntarily suspend pledge classes and activities after a tip about possible hazardous behavior was received

In early 2013, UCF made national headlines after it decided to suspend all Greek life following concerns about alcohol and hazing. In 2009, UCF asked the school's fraternities to voluntarily suspend pledge classes and activities after a tip about possible hazardous behavior was received (facebook.com/UCFGreeks)

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity had its charter revoked in Jan. 2015. A few months prior, members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity were accused of fighting with two Lambda Chi fraternity members who had inadvertently stepped on the wrong fraternity bus.

Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity had its charter revoked in Jan. 2015. A few months prior, members of the Kappa Sigma fraternity were accused of fighting with two Lambda Chi fraternity members who had inadvertently stepped on the wrong fraternity bus. (Steven Lemongello, Orlando Sentinel)

Tau Kappa Epsilon was placed on interim suspension April 25, 2014 after a pledge told one of his professors that he had to stay at the fraternity house and do various tasks during rush week.

Tau Kappa Epsilon was placed on interim suspension April 25, 2014 after a pledge told one of his professors that he had to stay at the fraternity house and do various tasks during rush week. (tkeucf.com/rush)

But a university vice president recently upheld the suspension, meaning the fraternity cannot take part in university activities or recruit new members for a year.

The fraternity could seek a "judicial review" but will not. Instead, members are working to make UCF's chapter of Alpha Tau Omega "a good campus community citizen," said Wynn Smiley, chief executive officer of the national ATO organization, in an email this week

Smiley had called the suspension an "acute sanction," noting the fraternity had suspended or expelled 31 UCF members for their actions at the July party even before the university's disciplinary proceedings began.

But the university said it suspended ATO for a year because the fraternity already was on probation at the time of the unsanctioned party and all Greek activities at UCF had been halted last spring to address problems of alcohol abuse. ATO didn't seem to get the message that UCF didn't want such activities on campus, a hearing panel determined.